VETERANS HEALTHCARE : The Essentials for Improving the Veterans Health Administration.

More than three million veterans use a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) center for medical needs. Unfortunately, while the VHA excels in some areas, it flounders terribly in others. Despite interference by politicians seeking their political agendas, we must save this valuable institution. It renders excellent care in many disciplines that cannot be duplicated in the private sector. However, it is in dire need of another transformation to serve the growing veteran population.

This transformation requires a change of institutional culture, recruitment of savvy administrators, an influx of young physicians, and a curtailment of its overwhelming bureaucracy. The VHA and its subcontractors must put the veterans first.

This book evaluates VHA's history and the scandals that plague it. In addition, it looks at VHA propaganda and comments on its accuracy. The book highlights VHA's strengths and weaknesses in patient care and suggests corrections. In addition, the author reviews the differences between private and VHA issues of healthcare quality, targeting VHA's much heralded and expensive Choice program. Finally, the reader will see how VHA bureaucracy distorts the potential benefits of the Choice Program.

Another extensive VHA transformation will benefit our veterans by providing them with the excellent healthcare they deserve.